Pharmaceutical Name:

Caulis bambusae in taenis

Botanical Name:

Phyliostachys nigra var. Henonis Stapf

Common Name:

Bamboo shavings

Source of Earliest Record:

Mingyi Bielu

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

After the outside green skin has been removed, shavings are taken from the outer part of the bamboo. This can be done all year round.

Properties and Taste:

Sweet and slightly cold

Meridians:

Lung, stomach and gall bladder

Functions:

To clear heat and resolve phlegm
To relieve irritability and stop vomiting

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Cough due to heat in the lungs manifested as cough with yellow think sputum.
*Use with Scutellaria root (Huang qin) and Trichosanthes fruit (Gua lou).

2.     Mind disturbed by phlegm-heat manifested as irritability, insomnia, palpitations, stifling sensation in the chest and cough with yellow sputum.
*Use with Immature bitter orange (Zhi shi), Tangerine peel (Chen pi) and Poria (Fu ling) in the formula Wendan Tang.

3.      Nausea and vomiting caused by heat in the stomach.
*Use with Coptis root (Huang lian), Tangerine peel (Chen pi), Pinellia tuber (Ban xia) and Fresh ginger (Sheng jiang).

Dosage:

6-10 g